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Useful experience for orchard farmers/managers includes:

• horticulture or agriculture work
• using specialist equipment or driving heavy vehicles
• mechanical work
• business management
• working with harvesting contractors.

Orchard farmers/managers may do some or all of the following:

• decide what fruit or nuts to grow 
• cultivate land and plan orchards
• plant trees or shrubs, and monitor growth
• ensure trees and shrubs are watered, fertilised and pruned, and are healthy
• manage irrigation and frost protection
• organise the harvesting, grading and packing of fruit or nuts, and arrange for sale and transport
• buy seed, trees, fertiliser, machinery and other orchard materials
• check, clean and maintain orchard equipment
• train, organise and supervise orchard workers and contractors
• ensure that food safety, health and safety, and other regulations are complied with
• keep production and financial records.

Growing demand for orchard farmers/managers

Demand for orchard farmers/managers is increasing as the horticulture industry continues to grow.

Orchard farmers/managers are particularly in demand because:

• there are not enough New Zealanders available to do the work
• the horticulture industry is expected to grow and increase its export revenue to over $5 billion in 2023
• orchards are getting larger and more complex, and require advanced soil and orchard management skills to achieve greater productivity.

High competition for orchard farmer/manager positions

Staff turnover is low for orchard farmer/manager positions so competition can be high when vacancies arise.

However, it can still be difficult to find suitable people for orchard manager vacancies due to lack of experience and expertise.

According to the Census, there were about 4,500 fruit and nut growers (across all horticulture sectors) working in New Zealand in 2018. 

Types of employers varied

Orchard farmers/managers can work for private orchard owners, businesses or grower companies that may own one or more orchards.

Orchard farmers/managers can also be self-employed and own their own orchards.

Horticulture New Zealand

(04) 472 3795 - info@hortnz.co.nz - www.hortnz.co.nz

Primary Industry Training Organisation

0800 208020 - info@primaryito.ac.nz - www.primaryito.ac.nz

Orchard farmers/managers may progress into supervisory or management roles, or buy their own orchards. They may also become horticultural consultants. 

• Agricultural/horticultural consultant job information 

Orchard farmers/managers may specialise in growing a specific type of fruit or nut or a mixture of different fruits and nuts.

Berry growers

Berry growers grow and sell kiwifruit, avocados, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants and boysenberries.

Citrus fruit growers

Citrus fruit growers grow and sell feijoas, grapefruits, limes, lemons, mandarins and oranges.

Drupe, stonefruit and summerfruit growers

Drupe, stonefruit and summerfruit growers grow and sell apricots, cherries, olives, peaches, plums and nectarines.

Nut growers

Nut growers grow and sell chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and other types of nuts.

Pipfruit growers

Pipfruit growers grow and sell apples and pears.

Orchard farmers/managers need to be:

• good administrators, with business planning skills
• good communicators and managers
• able to work well in a team and under pressure.